Small mixed woodland quieries

[Lucid Nonsense]

Hello folks,

 

I've owned a small woodland adjacent to a family farm in West Wales for many years and I've never really though about doing anything with it.

 

It's just over 25 acres and is mostly oak with some ash here and there. About 2-3 acres is Japanese Larch which was planted there in the 60s for some reason

 

I'm looking for ideas and tips for possible income generation but I'm not adverse to selling it if that makes more sense.

 

Basically at this stage I have no idea how to proceed and was hoping someone could point me in the right direction.

 

Thanks.

[phirow]

Try for a grant biomass seems to be the buzz word these days

[Stu]

maybe get a forester or contractor in to have a look around do abit of managment, id probaly go through and thin the oak and ash and whatever species maybe there, straight oak and ash butts will go to the mill and the tops will go for firewood other species like birch etc also go for firewood you should be able to get a good price for the butts and firewoood.

 

The nicer japense larch will probaly go for saw logs and the rougher stuff will probaly go for chip

[treebloke]

If you are going to work the wood you will more than likely need a felling license.

 

Has it ever been thinned, is there decent haul roads or tracks through the wood.

 

50 year old Larch would be some decent timber, fell the Larch, sell the timber then sell the wood.

[cosworth]

where about in west wales are you?

[muldonach]

Hello folks,

 

I've owned a small woodland adjacent to a family farm in West Wales for many years and I've never really though about doing anything with it.

 

It's just over 25 acres and is mostly oak with some ash here and there. About 2-3 acres is Japanese Larch which was planted there in the 60s for some reason

 

I'm looking for ideas and tips for possible income generation but I'm not adverse to selling it if that makes more sense.

 

Basically at this stage I have no idea how to proceed and was hoping someone could point me in the right direction.

 

Thanks.

 

You have a number of possibilities for income generation

 

Your local softwood mills will be able to give you a price on larch sawlogs and strainers, given the small area of larch available you are probably better talking to small local mills rather than a big outfit.

 

The mills would normally have some idea of contractors who would be able to fell and extract for you

 

Oak and ash thinnings should find a ready market as firewood or possibly sawlogs depending on size and quantities available.

 

I would have a talk with your local FC office - ours are pretty pro-active and will offer advice on grants, harvesting possibilities etc, and some of the local timber users, the more people you talk to the better chance somebody will come up with a plan or idea that suits you.

 

I would think carefully before selling the woodland off although I am led to believe that there is a good market in small amenity woods - somebody like John Clegg or Bidwells would be able to give you a market valuation.

 

Cheers

mac

[Lucid Nonsense]

Hi folks,

 

Thanks for the responses.

 

The wood is near Aberystwyth, it has a paved road going right through the middle of it providing access.

 

The area has not been thinned, at least not in the last 30+ years

 

I'm going to get in touch with the FC today and see what they have to say about it.

 

I shall report back

 

Thanks.

[Lucid Nonsense]

OK so the FC have assigned me a management planner who will craft me a management plan, obviously

 

Rather surprisingly pine martens have been spotted in the area, I didn't realise that there were any in Wales. But they assure me that they've been seen. So the FC are sending someone to fit cameras and such to see if they're using my woods. This has some implications as to types of grants I can get.

 

Do any of you have experience in this area?

 

I guess I shall just have to wait for the FC to conduct their survey and make a management plan right?

 

Cheers.